Linguistic Constructions of Suffering; How Mental Health Professionals Construct and Legitimize Syrian Refugees’ Suffering

Abstract

This master's thesis explores the ways in which Dutch mental health practitioners linguistically construct and legitimize Syrian refugees' suffering. Semi-structured interviews with professionals employed in the Dutch mental healthcare system serve as the study's main source of data, and it uses a critical discourse analysis to investigate the implicit assumptions and norms that underlie professionals' language. Results show how the implicit ideologies that underlie mental health providers' discourse may create pressure to conform to Western standards. The legitimacy of suffering and access to care may be impacted by the marginalization and obscuring of experiences or understandings that do not fit such frames. This study contributes to discussions on culturally sensitive mental healthcare by offering insights that may help promote greater equity for refugees within mental healthcare.